Parteienzweitstimmen

Parteienzweitstimmen refers to the second vote cast by an elector in the German federal election system, known as the Bundestagswahl. This vote is crucial for determining the overall proportion of seats each political party will hold in the Bundestag, the German parliament. Unlike the first vote, which is for a direct candidate in a constituency, the second vote is cast for a party list.

The principle behind the second vote is proportional representation. The total percentage of second votes a party receives nationwide directly translates into the percentage of seats that party is entitled to in the Bundestag. This system is designed to ensure that the composition of parliament accurately reflects the electorate's preferences for political parties.

If a party wins more direct mandates in constituencies (through the first vote) than it is entitled to based on its second vote share, it receives additional seats, and other parties receive compensatory or leveling seats (Ausgleichsmandate) to maintain overall proportionality. Conversely, if a party wins fewer direct mandates than its second vote share would warrant, it does not receive compensatory seats. The second vote therefore acts as the primary determinant of a party's strength in the federal parliament.